Roma in Eastern Europe

A front-page feature of today’s New York Times tells of increasing violence against Eastern European Roma. The article focuses on Hungary, where the Jobbik party and the Magyar Garda have become particularly vicious bastions of racism, but also brings into discussion cases from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. I find what is happening to be outrageous, especially because of locals’ comments such as “the situation is bad because of the many Roma,” essentially blaming the victim for the ethnic violence. This sounds a lot like the prevailing discourse after Hadareni in 1990s Romania. For all it’s worth I should point out, however, that Romania is not cited as a problem-country this time around. I believe there are actually signs of progress in Romania, in that there has been no major anti-Roma flare-up during the past four-five years (or correct me if I’m wrong).

The other reason why I wanted to post this is simply my disgust at particular aspects of the Slovak’s police treatment of Roma children. The New York Times reports that “the police in Slovakia were caught on video recently tormenting six Roma boys they had arrested, forcing them to undress, hit and kiss one another.” This is just sick, and I hope the policemen end up in jail honestly, if only to get a taste of the sexual humiliation they subjected those children.

There is also an interesting question of what homosexuality is perceived to be in this case — essentially the biggest humiliation ever, otherwise this would be no incentive for the Slovak police to use it in this way. This is the perfect example of a practice that constructs homosexuality as something horrible, by using it as “punishment.” Damn those bastards.